Police have subdued a man in his 20s after he took an elementary school student hostage inside a campus in southern Seoul, officials said Monday.

The incident happened at around 11:40 a.m., when the 25-year-old attacker, only identified by his family name, Yang, came into the administrative office of the Bangbae Elementary School and suddenly grabbed a female student at knifepoint.

The Bangbae Police Station dispatched special forces to the scene and set up around the premises for a hostage situation. The attacker apparently demanded the police call a journalist for him. 


He then fell to the ground showing symptoms of epilepsy after drinking water police gave to him. Police apprehended the attacker and rescued the girl safely, ending the hostage situation after about an hour, police said.

The victim is said to be unharmed and was sent to a nearby hospital for a further checkup. She left the hospital later after a doctor confirmed that she was showing no signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yang is still being treated for his symptoms, police said.

It was not immediately known why he staged the hostage attack.

He was apparently allowed into the school office when he posed as a former student who had come to ask for a graduation certificate.

Police said they plan to question him to determine his exact motive and other details related to the crime as soon as he regains consciousness.(Yonhap)